Distributor for lime, fertilizers, and similar materials for gardening



Dec. 23, 1947.. J. G. MOUNT 2,433,059 DISTRIBUTOR FOR LIME, FERTILIZERS, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS, FOR GARDENING Filed Oct. 20, 1944 INV ENTOR. wmfs 63 Maw/7' BY gm 2 W r i ATTOIP/VE) Patented Dec. 23, 1947 DISTRIBUTOR FOR LIME, FERTILIZERS, AND SIMILAR MATERIALS FOR GARDENING James G. Mount, Colwyn, Pa. Application October 20, 1944, Serial No. 559,516 3 Claims. (01. 222--227) This invention relates to a distributor for lime, fertilizers, or similar materials, and combinations of such materials, for gardening and the like.

Heretofore, in the operation of small gardens, particularly those in which vegetables are grown,

proper places for the materials by the growing plants. This diificulty is accentuated in many cases where the persons conducting the gardens are relatively inexperienced in the handling of such materials.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, but eflicient de- A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character aforesaid, by means of which the various materials used to stimulate are ordinarily rather diflicult to handle may be deposited at the proper locarows, and around the plants,

to bring about cient growth of the plants.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a distributor embodying the main features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional View of the magazine or hopper of the device, illustrating oertain of the internal parts;

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the magazine or hopper also illustrating several of the internal parts;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken approximately on the Fig. 5 is a top or plan view enlarged, of a choker device employed in the apparatus.

It should of course be understood that the description and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

magazine or hopper having a discharge spout 6 at the lower end thereof. The magazine or hopper 5 is mounted at the lower end of a supporting strut or bar 1.

In the normal use of the apparatus the upper end of the strut or bar 1 is gripped between the body and the upper part of the arm of the user. Projecting sidewise from the strut or bar 1, midway its extremities, is a handle 8 by means of which the lower end of the spout 6 of the magazine 5 may be directed to the proper location while the apparatus is being used. Projecting from the strut or bar 1 is a horizontal arm l0, pivoted as at 9 to the strut 1. Projecting from the side of manner to be hereinafter explained.

A coil spring I2 is secured at one end to the underside of the horizontal arm Ill, by means of an eyelet l3, and at M secured at a desired location in the strut 1. Additional eyelets l5 and I 6 may be provided to vary the tension and downward pull of the spring 12 upon the horizontal arm Ill.

The outer end of the horizontal arm ID has mounted therein a vertical rod I! which extends downwardly to the bottom of the magazine 5.

A disc I8 (see Fig. 2) is mounted on the rod I 7 near the lower end thereof and slightly above the point where the the magazine 5.

A conical coil spring [9 is mounted on the lower end of the rod l1, below the disc I 8, and this spring effectively serves to prevent clogging of the spout during the operation of the apparatus. The spring is held on the lower end of the rod I! by means of a nut 20 and washer 2 I.

The downward movement of the rod I1 is limited by the disc I8 engaging the lower portion supporting member 22 is mounted supporting strut 1 by means of a wing nut 25, the bolt 26 of which passes through a slot 21 in the strut member 1, whereby the plate member 22 may be raised or lowered accordingly as the movement of the horizontal arm I0 is to be varied.

Disposed within the magazine or hopper 5 and carried by the vertical rod I l are agitator arms 28 and 29 of sinuous shape. These agitator arms its lower end to an eyelet 3 28 and 29 extend through the mass of material contained within the magazine or hopper 5 and serve to prevent the same from packing therein and thus interfering with the free delivery thereof through the spout 6 as and when the same is required.

Preferably the vertical rod 11 is rigidly secured at the end of the horizontal arm I0. This may cause the disc [8, and the other parts carried at the lower end of the rod H, to bind in the lower end of the hopper and to avoid this there is provided a spring 30, one end of which is secured to the supporting strut 1 by means of an eyelet 3|, and the other end of which is secured to the vertical rod H by means of an eyelet 32.

It has been found that in theuse of the apparatus for the distribution of some granular materials such as certain of the proprietary fertilizers, etc., the same will tend to flow too freely from the lower end of the magazine or hopper, and to avoid this there is provided a choker device comprising a perforated plate 33 which may normally rest upon thedisc 1'8 having side flanges 34, also perforated, which extend up the side walls of the body portion of the magazine or hopper 5. This choker device may be slotted as at 35 to enable the same to be readily positioned on the disc 18. The choker device may also be provided with an upwardly extending handle 36 to facilitate the placing of the same in position whenever it is required.

Itwill be seen that by the foregoing there is provided a simple, yet inexpensive, device by means of which various materials such as lime, fertilizer, or similar materials, or combinations of such materials, may be readily placed where desired in connection with the growing of garden plants.

Inthe usual operation of the device the upper end of the supporting strut l isheld against the side of th body of the user by the upper portion of his arm, the handle member -8 being gripped by the left hand, and thehand engaging member ll of the horizontal bar In engaged by the other hand of the user. By means of the strut -'l and the handle 8 the lower end. of the spout 6 of the magazine 5 may be directed to the point where the material is to be applied. The operator will then oscillate'the handle member H against the tension of the spring 12 to reciprocate, in a vertical direction, the parts carried at the lower end of the od 11. The rod 11 will be=sufficiently flexed by the spring 30 tomaintain the lower end thereof in a substantially vertical position at all times during the up and down movement of the rod 11.

Whenever it is found that the material is of such nature as to flow too freely the choker device may be inserted over the disc IE to check the same.

I claim:

1. In a distributor of the character described a hopper, a delivery spout extending downwardly from the lower end'of said-hopper, a carrier member comprising a bar secured at its lower end to the side wall of the hopperandextendi-ng upwardly therefrom, a horizontal member pivotally mounted at one of its ends to the carrier bar, a vertical'rod extending downwardly from the other end 7 ofthe horizontal member and passing through theinter'ior .of the hopper, a spring normally impelling the vertical rod downwardly, a disc on the lower portion of the vertical rod normally closing the lower end of the hopper, and means mounted on the lower end of the vertical rod below the closure disc and disposed within the delivery spout to agitate the material therein when the vertical rod is raised and lowered by the actuation of the horizontal bar.

2. In a distributor of the character described a hopper, a delivery spout extending downwardly from the lower end of said hopper, a carrier member comprising a bar secured at its lower end to the side wall of the hopper and extending upwardly therefrom, a horizontal member pivotally mounted at one of its ends to the carrier bar, a vertical rod extending downwardly from the other end of the horizontal member and passing through the interior of the hopper, an adjustable device for limiting the upward movement of the horizontal member, a spring connected at one end to the horizontal member and at the other end to the carrier bar normally impelling the vertical rod downwardly, the horizontal member being adapted-to be actuated by the operator to raise and lower the vertical rod, means on the lower portion of the vertical rod normally closing the lower end of the hopper, and means on the lower portion of the rod adapted to agitate the material in the delivery spout when the vertical rod is raised and lowered by the actuation of the horizontal bar.

3. In a distributor of the character described a hopper, a delivery spout extending downwardly from the lower end of said hopper, a carrier member comprising a bar secured at its lower end to the side wall of the hopper and extending upwardly therefrom, a sidewise projecting handle on the carrier bar disposed above the upper edge of the hopper, a horizontal member pivotally mounted at one of its ends to the carrier bar, a vertical rod extending downwardly from the other end of the horizontal member and passing through the interior of the hopper, an adjustable device mounted on the carrier bar for limiting the upward movement of the horizontal member, a spring connected at one end to the horizontal member and at the other end to the carrier bar normally impelling the vertical rod downwardly, a handle member on the horizontal member adapted to be engaged by the operator to raise and lower the vertical rod, a disc on the lower portion of the vertical rod normally closing the lower end of the vertical hopper, a conical spring mounted on the lower end of the vertical rod below the closure disc and disposed within the delivery spout, said spring being adapted to agitate the material therein when the vertical rod is raised and lowered by the actuation of the horizontal banana agitator arms carried by the vertical rod and disposed within the hopper.

JAMES G. MOUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1 ,253,218 Doremus Jan. 15, 1918 2,159,321 Currie May 23, 1939 2,334,044 Swan Nov. 9, 1943 293,468 Jackson Feb. 12, 1884 1,880,625 Wilmeth Oct. 4, 1932 133,911 Wilson Dec. 10, 1872 808,856 Melton Jan. 2, 1906 1,796,014 Ferngren et a1. Mar. 10, 1931 1,910,650 Tarrant May 23, I933 

